Background

The European Court of Human Rights stated that Hungary had not contravened the European Convention on Human Rights by prohibiting assisted suicide or euthanasia, including when assistance was given in a foreign state. In January, after years of conflict with the central administration of the Hungarian courts, 128 judge-delegates elected 14 new members of the National Judicial Council tasked with supervising the lawful operation of the central administration of courts and the Supreme Court.

Freedom of expression

In February a new authority named the Sovereignty Protection Office began investigating organizations and individuals considered to be a threat to national sovereignty. Its remit gave it broad discretionary powers to stigmatize and intimidate those critical of the authorities. The office launched investigations against NGOs, including Transparency International Hungary, and an investigative media outlet. Reports published by the office concluded that Transparency International and other civil society organizations served foreign interests and harmed the political, economic and societal interests of Hungary.

Due to concerns about the activities of the Sovereignty Protection Office, the European Commission launched an infringement procedure against Hungary and referred the country to the Court of Justice of the EU (CJEU) in October. Despite several calls from civil society, the commission did not request an interim measure from the court. The case was pending at the end of the year.

Inhumane detention conditions

In November the parliament overturned a ban on physical contact between prisoners and their visitors, which had been in place since 2017. Although plexiglass separation screens would remain in some settings, the new rules would allow approximately 5,000 prisoners more intimate and personal contact with their loved ones from March 2025.

The changes followed a European Court of Human Rights decision against the ban in 2023.

Excessive and unnecessary use of force

Following a death in police custody in 2018, the Supreme Court in April repealed the former judgment acquitting a police officer and ordered a new investigation to assess whether the police had used unlawful force.

Women’s and girls’ rights

The 2024 Gender Equality Index, published by the European Institute of Gender Equality, ranked Hungary 26th out of the 27 EU member states based on its overall performance, and placed it last in the domain of gender equality in positions of political and economic power.

An EU survey published in November found that 55% of Hungarian women had faced gender-based violence at some point and that 8% were currently living in an abusive relationship.

Unlawful targeted surveillance

In March the Budapest Metropolitan Court found that the National Authority for Data Protection and Freedom of Information had violated the human rights of four citizens targeted by Pegasus spyware, by not investigating their complaints effectively.

Refugees’ and migrants’ rights

Temporary protection of people fleeing from Ukraine was prolonged until 4 March 2025. However, the government decided that, after 21 August, only pregnant women, children, people living with disabilities, and those aged 65 and older fleeing from “active combat zones” in Ukraine were eligible for state-supported housing. Approximately 3,000 people lost their housing as a result of these changes; most were women with small children, many of them Roma.

In June the CJEU imposed a fine of EUR 200 million (approximately HUF 80 billion) on Hungary for “deliberately evading the application of the EU common policy” on migration by not allowing people to claim asylum at the border. Additionally, Hungary faced a fine of EUR 1 million (approximately HUF 400 million) per day. This was to be applied until Hungary amended legislation allowing often violent pushbacks of asylum seekers at the country’s borders.

Right to a fair trial

Hungary made no attempt to implement the recommendations of the European Commission’s Rule of Law Report to address systematic deficiencies in judicial independence, media freedom and the country’s anti-corruption framework.

In December the president of the National Judicial Council resigned after approximately 2,000 judges and court staff protested against a deal that required their agreement to a vaguely worded judicial reform proposal as a precondition for receiving a salary rise. Judges and judicial organizations described the deal as “blackmail” and criticized the government’s proposal, fearing it could compromise their independence. However, the parliament adopted some elements of the reform in December.

LGBTI people’s rights

Adding to its ongoing anti-LGBTI campaign, the government introduced further limitations on publications or products in cases where their “defining element” was deemed to portray or promote LGBTI themes or sexuality. The changes added to a sense of uncertainty among companies, creating a chilling effect and the likelihood of increased self-censorship.

The CJEU held a hearing in November as part of a European Commission infringement procedure against Hungary’s anti-LGBTI “Propaganda Law” of 2021. The law continued to have a far-reaching effect on LGBTI individuals and groups, entrenching negative stereotypes and discriminatory attitudes and restricting the right to freedom of expression. Government and European Parliament representatives from 16 member states intervened at the CJEU hearing.

Right to a healthy environment

Hungary ranked 45th in the Climate Change Performance Index in 2024, placing it among the low performers especially on renewable energy use. While Hungary’s climate policies aligned with EU targets, they were vague and lacked actionable measures. Despite the growth of solar panel installations and the lifting of a ban on wind turbines, Hungary planned to increase domestic production of fossil gas and extend to 2030 the operating life of a coal-fired power plant responsible for 14% of Hungary’s CO2 emissions.